Mattawa mayor releases statement on police chief firing

MATTAWA — Mattawa Mayor Maggie Celaya released a statement Tuesday following public outcry from her termination of Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris April 8.

In the statement, Celaya said the city “made the very difficult decision to separate employment with Chief Harris.” Because the termination is under litigation, the city is not able to discuss the situation, other than Harris was given “all of the protections afforded to him as a public employee.”

Celaya said her decision to fire Harris “was made in good faith and for cause under the civil service rules.”

According to the statement, Harris made allegations about his employment and a third party investigator found the claims “to have no merit or supporting facts.” None of the allegations were mentioned and no information was released on why they were dismissed.

Celaya, who was appointed mayor on Nov. 25, 2020, said she “intends to conduct a comprehensive search for a new chief,” but did not give any information on the timeline.

There has been some speculation Celaya would hire her brother, a police officer in Sunnyside, on the Mattawa police force. But in the statement, Celaya said she didn’t have “any intent to hire her brother as an employee with the City of Mattawa in any capacity.”

Celaya said she, the city council and city staff were committed to the “public safety, health and welfare” of the citizens of Mattawa. She said the city is taking on “several exciting projects,” such as various public works items, building developments, and “updating city policies and programs,” among other things. However, no specifics were given.

At the end of the statement, Celaya encouraged people to attend city council meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month.